In February, Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai visited Hong Kong to meet with his counterpart in the neighboring Special Administrative Region (SAR), Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu. It was Sam’s first official trip outside of Macao since he took office in late December last year. Together, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the ‘One Country, Two Systems’ principle and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between the two SARs to promote high-quality development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
During their meeting at Hong Kong’s Government House, both men emphasised the institutional advantages of ‘One Country, Two Systems’, praising its contributions to the long-term prosperity and stability of Macao and Hong Kong.
Sam expressed his gratitude to Lee and the Hong Kong authorities for their continuing support of Macao’s development. He noted that the SARs, with all their differences, complemented each other strongly. “Enhancing cooperation on the existing solid foundation would lead to greater development for both regions,” Sam added.
Macao’s chief executive raised important instructions from President Xi Jinping, who visited the SAR as it celebrated the 25th anniversary of its return to the motherland on 20 December. Xi had urged Macao and Hong Kong to align with the country’s overall development strategy and seize opportunities presented by the rapidly developing GBA – improving the well-being of their respective populations in the process. The president’s speech had injected new momentum into cooperation between Hong Kong and Macao, Sam noted.
Lee, meanwhile, described the two cities as being as “close as brothers”, highlighting shared histories and frequent cultural and economic exchanges.
Key areas of cooperation
The leaders discussed a wide range of topics aimed at deepening collaboration between the two SARs. Many of the subjects aligned with Macao’s ‘1+4’ appropriate economic diversification framework, including innovations in science and technology, developments in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and sports events.
Both spoke of the importance of cross-boundary infrastructure, such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, which has significantly improved connectivity between the cities as well as the mainland. Lee noted that the bridge has created new opportunities for closer communication and economic ties, supported by measures like the ‘Mutual Use of QR Code between HKSAR and Macao SAR Clearance Service’, introduced in July 2024 to streamline boundary controls for eligible residents.
Tourism was another important topic, with both sides agreeing to collaborate on twin-destination tourism campaigns and work toward building a regional and international tourism brand for the GBA.
The two leaders also discussed advancing judicial assistance between the SARs, implying the importance of strong legal cooperation to complement their economic and cultural partnerships.
Sam and Lee pledged to continue working closely to improve the well-being of residents in both SARs and contribute to the nation’s overall development.
Before meeting with Lee, Sam and his high-level delegation visited the Hong Kong Science Park and the Hong Kong Palace Museum. Their visit aimed to garner insights into Hong Kong’s advancements in innovation and technology, as well as its achievements in cultural and heritage collaboration with the mainland.
